Stephen Colbert discusses difference between Smeagol and Gollum

Stephen Colbert was not happy this weekend after learning that scientists had decided to name a new spider species by the wrong Lord of The Rings character.

On a recent episode of The Late Show, Colbert was giving his monologue when he began talking about why he was “upset.” He had learned that Brazilian scientists found a species of spider that was so ugly, they decided to name it Smeagol, after the well-known character from LoTR.

They apparently chose the name because of how ugly the spider was and the fact that it lived in dark caves. Colbert discussed why he had a problem with this. He said that Smeagol was the name of a hobbit, who was friendly and loving until he was fishing with his cousin one day.

Everyone who knows the story knows Deagol found the ring in the bottom of the lake and when he showed it to Smeagol, the dark power of the ring took over. Smeagol killed his cousin, then went to live down in a cave due to the guilt and he became Gollum.

Colbert joked that they were “only half way through my problems” when he pointed out that they missed the opportunity to name the spider after Shelob, an actual spider in the movie as well.

Watch the video below to see Colbert school everyone on naming things after Middle Earth characters.

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